Frequently Asked Questions

Natural gemstones and diamonds take millions of years to form naturally inside the earth’s crust, but synthetic stones are mass-produced by humans in a laboratory within a few hours/days with chemical and physical properties exactly the same as natural gemstones. Synthetic gems and diamonds lack the super-natural powers & energy of Natural Gemstones therefore they are not recommended for astrological purposes.

Inclusions are naturally formed minerals, fingerprints, fissures, or any other feature which are within the gemstone and are usually sculpt at the time formation under the earth’s crust. These inclusions might sometimes reach the surface of the gemstone in the form of cavities, inverted crystals, etc. Following are a few examples of beautiful inclusions in Natural Gemstones:

Natural gemstones are not produced in laboratories with perfection but are produced by our mother earth with an enormous amount of supernatural energy and powers within them. During its formation, crystals of other minerals often enter the gemstone. Natural gemstones are also often clouded by feathers which are known as fingerprints of nature. These birthmarks or inclusions also help in differentiating natural gemstones from synthetics. Colored Gemstone clarity types classified by Gemological Institute of America (GIA):

The Four C’s – Color, Clarity, Cut & Carat Weight are the most important factors which determine the value & quality of a gemstone.

To learn more about 4C’s, visit our Gem Insights > Four C’s section.

Absolutely Yes! There’s much more than 4C’s in gemstones & diamonds which are looked at by a Gemologist to grade & value a gem. Few of them are as follows:

>Enhancements: Most of the gemstones and diamonds are treated or enhanced by humans to improve the color and clarity of a gemstone. Treatments might improve the appearance of a gemstone, but Untreated gemstones win over the rarity factor. Therefore un-enhanced gemstones dominate the market price of any gemstone. 

>Characteristics: This is one of the most important factors which differentiates colored gemstones from Diamonds. “Beauty is in the eyes of its Beholder” – The character of every gemstone is different and unique. A gemstone that might appeal to someone might not appeal to another person. 

>Certification: A gemstone needs to be certified as there are many synthetics & natural imitations which closely resemble their natural counterparts. Moreover, most natural gemstones are also enhanced with treatments that are difficult to identify by a layman. Only an authentic certificate can assist a customer with all the details required.

>Origin: The origin of a gemstone also plays an important role many times. Few origins have a premium “Brand Value” compared to others due to many factors. Example: Kashmir Sapphire, Columbian Emeralds, and Burmese Rubies are priced way higher than similar-looking gemstones from other origins.

Enhancements/treatments are a valuable addition to the beauty of natural gemstones through various processes carried on by human beings to enhance the overall appearance of the gemstone. Generally, low and medium grade gemstones are enhanced / treated to improve the color, clarity, or durability of the gemstone. Therefore treated natural gemstones are priced far less compared to natural untreated gemstones.

Common enhancements include Dyeing, Lead / Glass Filling in Rubies & Sapphires, Resin filling in Emeralds & Corals, Thermal Enhancements with or without additives, etc. 

To learn more about enhancements, visit our Gem Insights > Buyer’s Guide section.

Unfortunately, you’ll not. Only an experienced gemologist or diamantaire can distinguish genuine gemstones from synthetics, imitations, or fake ones. For a layman, certifications & trust are important factors that you must look for while buying gemstones from any merchant. 

Gem mines are not found all over the world, but they are discovered only in few locations. It might take millions of years for gemstones to form under the earth’s crust. Moreover, it might take another million years to discover gemstone and diamond mines around the world. Out of the total gemstones extracted from these mines approximately 1/100th are of Gem Quality and out of these less than 5% are more than 3 carats.
Thus finding a clear-transparent and beautifully colored gemstone is extremely rare.

Gemstones travel a long journey before they reach us. How much are you paying for such a precious gemstone? Are they really expensive? Prices are mere numbers and can never define the real value of a natural gemstone.

Carat is the standard unit of weight around the world in which a gemstone or diamond is measured. Carat originated from the Latin word “Carratus” which relates to Carob Bean (seed).

1 Carat = 200 milligrams = 0.200 grams